Rating: 
Summary: Part One Of Two
Review: "The World At Night", is actually the first of a pair of books that tell the story of Jean Casson, a former movie producer who is faced with finding a way to survive the onset and extended occupation of Paris in World War II. France was not only divided into parts by the Germans, it was further sub-divided by a variety of groups that had their own agenda. Jean tries to maintain his life, and protects those he cares about, all the while coping with what it means to be a patriot.Alan Furst writes about a narrow by eventful time from 1933 to 1945. His books are meticulously accurate to the point they would pass inspection by many readers of history. The author takes an unusual step at the end of his books by sharing with readers his sources for the novels he creates. This is not done in an academic bibliography or a blizzard of footnotes, rather he writes conversationally about what he reads, and what he suggests as reading for those who are interested. In this first book Jean Casson will take part as a photographer during the short-lived French defense. He eventually finds himself taking on a task he believes will help France through his aiding the British. This is not a character that has a desire to be heroic; he seems to just want to find his place. Questions of what is honorable, and what constitutes loyalty constantly shadow him. In many ways he is the personification of the nation he lives in. He is conflicted to the point of pondering whether a barber who continues to cut hair during the war, including that of the German occupiers is a collaborator. At this level the question may appear simpler than the so-called larger issues, but the philosophical issue is the same. Jean is given the opportunity to escape to England and continue to work in some manner for France. As he makes his way to The English Channel he continues to torture himself with issues both political and personal. His final act and the justification for it will surprise many, and seem appropriate to others. Whatever you may feel at the close of the book, you will feel your time has been well spent.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice story gimmick, poor story plot.
Review: A good deal of this relatively short book held my interest for the scenery and mood presented by the author. When looking at a couple of his other books, I see that presenting a realistic atmosphere of World War II Europe is this writer's gimmick. He is quite good at it, and there are certainly worse schemes in vogue by various popular writers. I rate this book low, but not because it is so slow moving. I have enjoyed other books with a deliberate pace. My problem with the book is that the plot is not presented until about half way through the book. Even then, the climax registered as barely a ripple in the water. When I finished the book, I wondered where was the rest, and what was the point of telling the story. I understand from other reviewers that the writer has a sequel to possibly complete the story. The book would have been better if the two volumes had been combined. I doubt that I will invest in the second book.
Rating: 
Summary: Indeed, not his best.
Review: But a worthy effort. I like Mr. Furst's description of
occupied France. >Spoiler< I don't believe Casson's escape from
the Gestapo, and I'm disappointed by his "escape" from the
people trying to get him out of France at the end of the
book. A lot of people put their fictional lives on the line
to get him to England, and he can't stand leaving his
girlfriend. Typical Frenchman, LoL. Sorry, just had to say it.
Again, though, the descriptive writing is first-rate, I think.
Rating:
Summary: Indeed, not his best.
Review: But a worthy effort. I like Mr. Furst's description of
occupied France. >Spoiler< I don't believe Casson's escape from
the Gestapo, and I'm disappointed by his "escape" from the
people trying to get him out of France at the end of the
book. A lot of people put their fictional lives on the line
to get him to England, and he can't stand leaving his
girlfriend. Typical Frenchman, LoL. Sorry, just had to say it.
Again, though, the descriptive writing is first-rate, I think.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing plotting from an over-rated author
Review: Furst's fourth WWII espionage novel is heavy on atmosphere but virtually plotless, and is disappointingly left to be finished in his next book, Red Gold. All his books feature loner male protagonists, and here the subject is Jean Casson, a midrange French film producer. In his early 40s, Casson is a somewhat hedonistic bon vivant, and as life comes to a momentary standstill during the initial weeks of occupation, he struggles to keep himself fed and clothed. One gets the distinct sense that Casson is supposed to be somewhat emblematic of a certain type or even France, rather than a distinctive character unto himself. A somewhat empty womanizing type, without the courage of any convictions, but with expensive tastes, Casson is recruited to help the resistance. It's a third of the way into the book, by the time this happens though, and-unlike in other of Furst's books-the intelligence aspect never picks up any momentum. As amateur intelligence operation, Casson is mediocre at best, and it's never really clear why he agrees to help. The perhaps reflects a certain aspect of France at the time, the desire to retain honor, but without having to do too much hard work, or put oneself into too dangerous a situation. At the same time his espionage work starts, he rekindles an old relationship that is perhaps his one true love. This never transcends the generic potboiler romance level, and fails to add any depth to what little story there is. As in all of Furst's writing, the book is rich in detail when in comes to occupied Europe, one really gets the vibe of the cafés, restaurants, and street life in Paris. However, the espionage angle develops rather confusingly and almost randomly, resulting in a rather convoluted anticlimactic finale, which includes a ridiculous escape scene. This weakness is only further exacerbated by the book's abrupt end-why this brief story and Red Gold were split into two books is both annoying a bit of a mystery. The result is that this book is probably the weakest of Furst's espionage oeuvre.
Rating:
Summary: "Victor, Please Don't Go to the Underground Meeting Tonight"
Review: Furst's writing is very film aware: As I read THE WORLD AT NIGHT, I felt that I was somewhere in between a prequel to CASABLANCA and one of Marcel Carné's 1930s celluloid evocations of despair, such as QUAI DES BRUMES. I was also conscious that Furst did a creditable job bringing to life a time and place we all knew mostly from the movies. Of course, a film adaptation of this novel would probably garner an R-rating, what with its hero's richly textured sex life. Jean Casson plays a small-time movie producer who has to learn how to shift for himself under the Nazi occupation of France. On the way, he not only falls in love with the hot starlet Citrine, but simultaneously acts as an agent for the Boche and the Resistance. Furst's Gestapo officers come across as unexpectedly tolerant and even bemused -- except when they are crossed. Ach, these French! Why can't they understand that we are only trying to help them? Lieutenant Colonel Guske of the SS in particular is sketched in with admirable restraint. My only problem with an otherwise wildly entertaining read is that Casson's escape from Gestapo headquarters at the end is just a bit too pat. With his strength at setting the mood and his aptitude for interesting and very French characterizations, Furst could have sacrificed some of the derring-do at the end without sacrificing the sense of the story. I first heard of the author on a National Public Radio broadcast while driving to the library. Within hours, I was congratulating myself for having found another interesting new writer.
Rating:
Summary: "Victor, Please Don't Go to the Underground Meeting Tonight"
Review: Furst's writing is very film aware: As I read THE WORLD AT NIGHT, I felt that I was somewhere in between a prequel to CASABLANCA and one of Marcel Carné's 1930s celluloid evocations of despair, such as QUAI DES BRUMES. I was also conscious that Furst did a creditable job bringing to life a time and place we all knew mostly from the movies. Of course, a film adaptation of this novel would probably garner an R-rating, what with its hero's richly textured sex life. Jean Casson plays a small-time movie producer who has to learn how to shift for himself under the Nazi occupation of France. On the way, he not only falls in love with the hot starlet Citrine, but simultaneously acts as an agent for the Boche and the Resistance. Furst's Gestapo officers come across as unexpectedly tolerant and even bemused -- except when they are crossed. Ach, these French! Why can't they understand that we are only trying to help them? Lieutenant Colonel Guske of the SS in particular is sketched in with admirable restraint. My only problem with an otherwise wildly entertaining read is that Casson's escape from Gestapo headquarters at the end is just a bit too pat. With his strength at setting the mood and his aptitude for interesting and very French characterizations, Furst could have sacrificed some of the derring-do at the end without sacrificing the sense of the story. I first heard of the author on a National Public Radio broadcast while driving to the library. Within hours, I was congratulating myself for having found another interesting new writer.
Rating:
Summary: horrible
Review: i could only read half this book before tossing it --just bad!!!!
no suspense no characters you can care about-no plot-
i think i could write a better book.
and filled with foul words and sex scenes(not too graphic but constant)save your money
Rating:
Summary: The Nightmare Years
Review: I have read several of Furst's novels and they are all very good, particularly in evoking the atmosphere of sheer terror that pervaded Europe between 1933 and 1945 - though he might extend the streak beyond 1945 to cover the early, horrific years of the cold war. I have only one suggestion: that for his future novels he should get a good French copy-editor. He makes a great many mistakes in French. These are novels, so it's a venal sin, but it detracts from his claims to authenticity to write, for instance, 'monsieurs et madames'. I'll send him a list of mistakes in this book, if he wants.
Rating:
Summary: Great writing supports a thin story
Review: I recently discovered Alan Furst and consider him one of the best period novelists writing today. I read "Kingdom of Shadows" first, which was excellent, and came to this novel with great expectations. While Furst again delivers rich characterization and the ominous atmosphere of German-occupied Paris, I felt the story did not rise to the level of the word craft. The main character is complex but is so detached and unopinionated that I found myself not caring about him or the choices that he made. His ennui soon became mine as I soldiered on reading this novel, waiting for something to happen. A hokey escape sequence followed by a maudlin ending left me disappointed. Looking back, I realize that I came to this book for a spy story and on that basis this novel fails; however, had I come to it to experience what France must have been like under Nazi occupation, then I would rate this book is a smashing success.
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